Column clamp with castings



H. O. McMlLLAN commu om? WITH CASTINGS Re 17,170

Dec. 25,` 1928.

0r gnal Filed June 1, 192; Q

ll 8 v l J 8 i Reissuecl Dec. 25', 1928.

UNITED sra'rasv HOWARD O. MOMILLAN, Fy MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA.`

COLUMN CLAMP WITH CASTINGS'.

Original No. 1,686,148, dated July 19, 1927, SerlarNo. 112,752,"Led June `1, 1926. Application for reissuev u led September 24, 1928. Serial 110,308,165.

are'used, embracing said form for drawing and holding it in lthe proper position until afterthe concrete is poured and has set.`

It is an object of'this invention, therefore,

kto provide a simple and efficient clampy for clampingaI concrete column form, comprising few parts, andone which can be easily f and quickly operated and-which will have a continuous take-up.

It is also `an object of this invention to provide such a clamp comprising a casting adapted to be disposed at the corner of the 'formA and out of contact therewith, having substantially flat arms with their flat sidesdisposed respectively in horizontal planes extendingr along the sideswof the form and means cooperating with said arms and disposed along It is still further an object'ofthe invention to provide such a clamp comprisingv a corner member preferably made as a casting, having a corner portion from which armsextend at right angles along the sidesof the form, which arms are adapted to embrace the ends of a pair of bars pivoted to other bars at the said arms rand bars', together with wedgev meansadapted to extend through' saidlarms and bars,'to/ effect a continuous take-up` be-- tween said casting and bars, to tighten and hold said clamp.

with the accompanying drawings, in lwhich like reference characters refer to similar parts throughout the several views andin which z--f-r Fig. 1 is aplan view of ther device yasapplied to a column form, with the form; shown in horizontalsection;

yFig.-2 is a View in side elevation as'seen L i from the bottom ofFigul; and

the sides of the form for tightening the clamp.`

overlapping in the corner portion y of Y said` casting, said arms and bars having a plurali- These and other objects and advantagesof` the invention will be fully set forth in the` following description made in connectiony Fig. 3' is a vertical'section taken on the line 3-2-3 of Fig 1, as indcatedby the arrow.

The present clamp' is in some respects an improvement over the clamp disclosed andclaimed in;y applicantls priorv Patent No.l 1,539,053, granted May 6, 1925. In the clamp of said patent there are four pairsofhinged bars. Some contractorsfdesireto have as fewy pieces in the clamp as possible, and the-f-presber of parts.

Referring to the drawings, a clampl is lent clamp is designed to have a fewernumy shown comprisingbars 5 and`6 hingedtoj getherr at one end to form two pairs. While the barsf and 6 may be variously formed, they are preferabl and in the embodiment' of the invention il ustrated, formed Yas plain flat bars rectangular in plan and crosssection, having their pivoted ends overlapping.v The `bars 5 and 6 of each'pair extend along the adjacent sides of the form, which form is shownv in Fig. 1 as 7, with one edge of said bars is contact with theu sides of the form. Eachof the bars 5 and 6 has a plurality of spaced aline'd elongated slots 5'L extending therethrough, which in the embodiment of the inventionv illustrated are shown as two in number. The free ends `of the bars of the respective pairs overlap at two corners of the form andfsaid overlapping bars pass through a member 8" preferably formed as a casting. f The'member 8 has a corner portion@a `from which extend'fat right angles to each otherthe arms `8d andfSf, which arms are` comparatively ilat and with their flat sides disposed substantially in a horizontal plane. Eachy of the arms 8l and 8t has a slot extending longitudinally therethrough said slots being-designated 8* and 8 respeetivelyf The slotsb and 8 are disposed centrally of the arms 8d and-8f in fa vertical direction and extend longitudinal- 1y ofthe said arms, said slots being open at at the inner sides ofsaid arms, but being wholly or partially closed at their outer sides by the portions 8 and 8g' respectively. The

slots 8h and `8c in eflect'imerge at the corner;A

portion;8a of the casting 8, thus forming a chamber in said casting at thisy cornenportion. portionA 8", however, does rnot extend" along the inner longitudinal sides ofthe arms 8d or 8f, but is-confinedto thel corner portion -8'L of the-member 8'; where the bars` and 6 over- This chamber orvrecess inthexcornen lap. It will also be noted that the arms 8i and 8f are in slightly different vertical planes. The arms 8d and 8t are each provided adjacent the outer end and side with an apertured lug 811. Chains 9 are each connected to the lugs 8h and are each connected at its other end with a wedge member 10, two of which Wedves are provided for each arm and which wedges have a hole 10a therein in which one end of the chains 9 are respectively fastened. Each arm 8d and 8f has a plurality of elongated slots 81 extending therethrough, which slots are transversely alined with the slots 5"L in the bars 5 and 6, but are spaced a different distance than the slots in said bars. Each bar 5 has a rivet 11 secured adjacent its free end to prevent the member 8 from sliding therefrom.

In operation the members 8 will always be carried on the bars 5. Vhen the de?- Vice is to be placed about a column, the ends of bars 6 will be slid into the slots 8l so that the device will assume the position shown in Fig. 1. The sides of the bars 5 and 6 will thus be brought against the sides of the form and one of the slots 5a will partially aline with one of the slots 81. The wedge l() is now inserted through the partially alined slots `5a and 81, in each of the arms 8d and 8f, and driven downwardly therein. This wedge will bear aga-inst one end of the slot 8t and will tend to draw the bars 5 and 6 through the member 8. The bars will thus be tightly drawn about the form and securely held ainst the same. If one of the wedges 10 is driven down until the slot 51L substantiall alines longitudinally with the slot 81, anot er wedge can be placed through the other slot 81 which will then be only partially alined with one of the slots 5a and a continuous or step by step tightening process or take-up can thus be performed. It will be noted that the wedges and thus the drawing effect takes place quite close to the form 7 and that this effect is inward of the corners or along the sides of the form and not beyond the member 8. It will also be noted that the member 8 does not contact with the form but the wedges react against the member 8, which member thus forms the base of reaction for tightening the bars 5 and 6 and the clamp.

The described structure also actsto square up the form when the clamp is brought to tightened position. The slots 81 are longitudinally alined with their respective arms 8d and 81 and the slots in these arms thus extend at right angles to each other. The slots 5al in the bars 5 andv 6 also extend longitudinally of said bars. The wedges 10 are of substantially the same width as the slots 81 and 5a and when these Wedges are driven through the slots 81 and through the slots 5, these slots are brought into alinement so that the center line of slots 5a coincides with the center line of slots 81. As the slots 81 in the arms 8d and 8f are at right angles, the overlapping bars 5 and 6 are thus brought to a right angle position and there can be no skewing of the form when it is tightened. This skewing of the form has been a great objection to previous column clamps which had no means for insuring that the arms would be brought to tightened position at right angles to each other. lith aplicants clamp, the bars 5 and 6 must be at right angles when the clamp is in tightened position. The chains 9 are provided so that the Wedges are always present and will not become lost when the apparatus is stored or transported from one job to another. v

From the above description it is seen that applicant has provided a very simple and elficient column plant, one comprising few parts and yet one that can be very easily and quickly applied to the form and clamped and held in position thereon. The clamp and the bars thereofcan be tightened by a continuous or progressive take-up movement by means ofthe wedges used, and the clamp can be held in any position to which it may be taken up. rlhe Wedges are very securely held in the position to vwhich they are driven by friction and the form is thus securely held in itsclamping posit-ion. The arms of the casting 8 are disposed, and the clamping action takes place, along the sides of the form and there are no parts or tightening devices projecting beyond the corners of the form.

Also, as above stated, the form is brought into a true square or other angular position by means of the castings and bars when the Wedges are driven therethrough. Also, as above stated, the casting through which'the bars extend does not engage the form. The clamp, when assembled, comprises only two parts or groups, as the members 8 are carried on the bars 5 and the wedges are carried by the members 8. The clamp can thus be stored and transported with no danger of the parts becoming lost, and there are fewer parts to handle when the device is to be assembled in operative position.

The Ydevice has been amply demonstrated in actual practice and found to be very convenient, successful and eflicient. It will, of course, be understood that various changes may be made in the form, details, arrangement and proportions of the parts, without departing from the scope of applicants invention, which generally stated, consists in a device capable of carrying out the objects vabove set forth, in the novel parts and combinations of parts disclosed and defined in the appended claims. l

What is claimed is:

1. A clamp for a column form comprising two pairs of bars, the bars of each pair being. pivoted together at one end, the pivoted ends of said bars being adapted to be disat `Opfpusite :corners :ofsaid iform, `with the bars'extendinglalongy adj acentsides thereof, one bar of eac pairfoverlappingabarof thepther pair at thefotherI cornersy of saidy form, a1"mmbor atealch of saidlast mentionedcorner having-arms extending along,

the sides .of the `form embracing said overlapped` i bars t and `means t acting on said arms and .ibairsfand disposed alongthe sides of said W form` for: rogressively-` drawing said vbars toward said) member and holding the same in clamping position.

2. A clamy for a column form comprising two pairso bars, the bars of each pair'belf'ing pivotedtogether atone end,` the pivoted ends-of said bars beingadaptedto be disposed at'opposite cornersof said form with the` barsl extending along adjacent sides thereof,` one` bar` of eac-hpair overlapping a acabar of theother pair atithe other vcorners of said form, said bars having ay series of spaced slots extending therethrough, a member` at tionsextending alongtthe sides oi said form .l and means co-operatingwith said portions and. bars and disposed alongdhesides of said 4a.; form betweenthe `corners .thereofior draw.- ingsaid bars into said member. r`

4; A clamp for acolumn form comprising bars extending along the sides -ofsaid yform and having rfree endsfoverlappingatone corf 45. ner thereof, a member at said corner embracing ksaid overlapping, ends land .having portions disposed at the angle between adjacent sidesof the form extendin alongthey sides of said form,y said portions aving meansexi f tendnglOngitudinaIly thereof, said bars also having means- ,extending longitudinally thereof, `and members.co-operating-with said portions and bars and said means for. draw ing saidbarsinto `said `first mentioned mem- `ber and positioninggsaid bars at` the same angle to each other, at. the sides of the form... 5. Aic-lampifor.acolumnfform comprisingy bars extending along-` thevsides of said form'.

` the same in clamping position. v m

, 10, A clamp fora column form comprising and. having free ends overlappingat ,one cor- GU ner thereof, arf-member atisaid corner embraveing said overlapping ends and having portions disposed at right angles' extending alongthe sides of said form;v said portions khaving means extending longitudinally 05 thereof, said bars also having means extendytending one above the other, a member at said corner embracing said ends and having portions extending along the sides` of saidf form and meansextending through said portions a-nd bars forfdrawing said hars into said member Witha continuous take-up action.`

7 A clamp for a colunm form` comprising; bars extending along the sides ofsaid form,` having free ends at one corner` thereof exf tending oneabove the other, a memberat said corner embracing said endsy andhaving por- .f tionsextending along the sideso-f said form, said portions and bars,having;spacedfelon-` gated slots therein, the slots'in said barsbeing spaced a different distance from the slots in said portions whereby the slots in said portions and bars yWill at all times be out of regfl ister, andvvedges-adapted to extend ,throught said slots in said portions and bars-for drawing said bars into said member.. i

8. A clamp for a column form comprisingy bars extending alongthesides of said form and havinglfree ends. overlapping lat one cor-- ner thereof, a memberat saidhcornerembracing said overlapping ends vand having portions extending lalongv the sides Yof said form and meansfdisposed along the; sides of said form and enga -ingsaidmemberand bars for continuously rawing said` bars into said membery and holdingthe same in posit-ion.

9. A clamp for. a column .form comprising two pairs of bars, `the bars of each pairbeing pivoted together atone end, the pivoted ends SQU of said bars.beingl adapted to vbe disposed at opposite` corners of said form with the bars extending along, adjacent sides thereof,4 one bar ofeachtpair overlapping a bar of. the otherpairat the other corners. of said form, said bars havinga series of spaced openings therethrough, ,ay member at each ofsaid last mentioned" corners'femlbraeing said. overlapped bars and having. portions extending.

along vthe sides of said form, said portions havinga pluralityfof openings therethrough5 transversely`v` alined With,` but` definitely .Y

Vspaced from theopenings in said bars, `and Wedgemembers disposed ,at thesides of said *form adapted to pass throughl partially alined openings in said portions and bars, to drawfsaid bars'into saidmember andhold tWo pairs of bars;` the bars of'each pair be ing pivoted together at one end, the pivoted the barsextending alongadj acent sides'thereof, one bar of each pair overlapping a bar of the other pair at the other corners of said form, means at Leach of said last mentioned corners engaging said overlapped bars and including arms extending along the sides of the form, each embracing one of said bars, and means disposed at the sides of said form acting on said arms and bars and disposed along the sides of said form for progressive- -ly drawing said bars toward said means and holding the same in clamping position.

11. A clamp for a column form comprising two pairs of bars, the bars of each pair being pivoted together at one end, the pivoted ends of said bars being adapted to be disposed at opposite corners of said form with the bars extending along adjacent sides thereof, one bar of each pair overlapping a bar of the other pair at the other corners of said form, said bars having a series of spaced openings therethrough, means at each of said last mentioned corners including members embracing said overlapped bars and extending along the sides of said form, said members having a plurality of openings therethrough transversely alined with, but differently spaced from the openings in said bars, and wedge members adapted to be disposed at the sides of said form and to pass through partially alined openings in said member and bars to draw said bars into said members and hold the same in clamping position. v

12. A clamp for a column form comprising bars extending along the sides of said form and having free ends overlapping at one corner thereof, means at said corner embracing said overlapping ends and having portions extending along the sides of saidl form, and means co-operating with said portions and bars and disposed along the sides of said form between the corners thereof for drawing said bars toward said means.

13. A clamp for a column form comprising bars adapted to be disposed along the sides of the form and project past the corners thereof, a member carried by one of said bars at the corner of said form having a portion disposed along the side of 'said form adjacent the corner thereof held in alinement with said said bars having slots therethrough spaced differently from the slots in said latter portion and wedge means adapted to be driven through the slots in said latter portion and bar received therein to cause relative movement between said bar andportion to tighten saidv clamp, said slots being so spaced in said portion and bar that a continuous take-up may f be secured on said clamp.

14. A clamp for a column form comprising bars adapted to be disposed along the sides ofthe form and project past the corners thereof, a member disposed at the cornerof said form carried by one of said bars so as to prevent any twisting movement relative thereto, said member having another portion projecting past the corner of said form rigid with and disposed at right angles to said first mentioned portion and receiving the other bar at said corner, said last mentioned portion having a plurality of slots extending therethrough, said bars having a single row of alined slots therein spaced dierently from the slots in said last mentioned portion, and wedge means adapted to pass through the slots in said last mentioned portion and bar therein to cause relative movement between said bar and portion and tighten saidfclamp,

Vsaid slots in said bar and portion being so at a corner of a mold, and angle-pieces having arms connected together in different planes, one of said arms being carried by one of said bars inside of their crossings and the other arm being fitted to the other bar, said latter arm and the bar therein being provided with slots therethrough, the slots being spaced differently in said arm and bar, and a wedge adapted to pass through the slots in said arm and bar therein to cause relative movement of said arm and bar, said slots being so spaced in said arm and bar that a continuous take-up in said clamp may be secured.

16. A clamp for a concrete column form comprising bars adapt-ed to extend about said form and project at theV corners thereof, a casting disposed adjacent the corner of said form having portions disposed substantially at right angles and directed inwardlyalong thesides of said form, said portions being alined with saidbarsand one ofthem receiving one of said bars and having spaced slots therethrough, said barsl also having spaced slots therethrough and wedge means adapted to pass through said slots in said last mentioned portion and through the slots in the bar therein, to relatively move said bar and port-ion, the other b-ar forming a base of resistance for said movement, said'slots in said latter portion and bar being spaced less than half the distance in one than the other.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

HOWARD O. MCMILLAN. 

